Award details | |
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Sport | Ice hockey |
Given for | National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game |
History | |
First award | 1977–78 NHL season |
Most recent | Anze Kopitar |
The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association following the regular season. Named after Frank J. Selke, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, the trophy has been awarded 35 times to 23 different players since the 1977–78 NHL season. The current holder is Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings.
The trophy was first awarded at the end of the 1977–78 NHL season. It was named after Frank J. Selke, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. The Selke Trophy was the fifth and last of the major NHL awards to be introduced that have been named after General Managers and owners of the Original Six teams, the other awards being the Art Ross Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, and Jack Adams Award.
The first recipient was Bob Gainey of the Canadiens, who won the trophy the first four years it was given, and to date he has won it more times than any other player.Guy Carbonneau, Jere Lehtinen, Pavel Datsyuk and Patrice Bergeron are tied for the second-most wins, with three apiece.